Match Report
Northwood 0 Clevedon Town 2
Clevedon Town went into their fourth game in eight days against the league bottom club Northwood with an unchanged starting eleven from Thursday's win over Hemel Hempstead.
In a largely forgettable first half, both sides had difficulty in controlling a high-bouncing and bobbling ball on a hard, dry pitch. Northwood showed why they occupy the bottom berth, carving out several chances, but finishing woefully, and Danny Greaves in the visitor's goal was rarely troubled. For the Seasiders, the only real chance on goal was a rasping shot from Man-of-the-Match Geraint Bater which picked up a deflection on its way through the area, and home keeper Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz did well to save low down to his right. Mike Symons had a snap shot from 12 yards out just clear the bar, then, on the next attack, he was brought down from behind as he ran into the area, only to suffer one of those inexplicable vagaries of refereeing, being booked for diving by referee Mr Richard Kendall, instead of being awarded the cast-iron penalty that even the most hard-core Northwood supporter agreed he deserved. Clevedon suffered a blow when Mike Trought picked up an ankle injury while defending deep in his own Penalty area and limped off, to be replaced by Danny Haines on his return from a one match suspension.
The visitors started the second half in a lively search for an opening goal, and it duly arrived within two minutes of the restart when a Pete Sheppard corner was met by Matt Rawlins, his glancing header beating the outstretched arm of Jaimez-Ruiz and into the top corner of the net. This put an injection of pace into the Seasiders and they forced the home side on the defensive for the next 25 minutes, Symons and Daine O'Connor going close before Clevedon increased their lead. In the 62nd minute, Hanin Romhdane was brought down and Haines free kick found Symons in the middle of the area and his powerful header beat the keeper all ends up.
Sheppard, Scott Hendy and Jack Pitcher all missed chances to extend the lead before the effects of the previous week’s matches, and three Northwood substitutions began to tell, and the last quarter-hour was spent under pressure in defence, in which Haines in particular was outstanding. Mitchell Page replaced Rawlins with 10 minutes to go. The 2-0 final score all but ensured Premier Division survival for the Seasiders.
Gallery
Team Sheet
| No: | Name: | Sub: | Goal: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greaves | ||
| 2 | Scott (Capt) | ||
| 3 | Bates | ||
| 4 | Romhdane | ||
| 5 | Hendy | ||
| 6 | Trought | ||
| 7 | O'Connor | ||
| 8 | Rawlins | 1 | |
| 9 | Pitcher | ||
| 10 | Symons | 1 | |
| 11 | Sheppard | ||
| 12 | Page | 8 | |
| 14 | Haines | 6 | |
| 15 | - | ||
| 16 | - | ||
| 17 | - | ||
| Own Goal | - |
Match Details
| Date: | 14/04/07 |
|---|---|
| Competition: | British Gas Business Southern League Premier Division |
| Opponents: | Northwood |
| Venue: | Northwood Park Chesnut Avenue Northwood Middlesex HA6 1HR |
| Half Time: | 0 - 0 |
| Full Time: | 2 - 0 |
| Attendance: | 100 |
| Match Report: | Jeff Eastmond |
| Photographs: | Tony Merrett |
| Notes: |
|
Downloads
| Appearances & Goal Scorers | Word Document |
|---|---|
| Team Sheet Matrix | Excel Document |